Dear Press Release Writer,

Nice minimalist press release! You had full contact info and all the details there about when and where the performance will take place – good start! However, it says nothing about who’s in it or who wrote it. In fact, the only name at all included in the press release was someone who said something that, out of context, can absolutely be misread as a criticism, not praise.

Considering that I praised your work last year, it might be helpful if you, say, put your own name in your press release…or even the Sent From address.

~Me

Takeaways:

• Don’t require a click-through to find key details.
  • State who is performing or presenting, and in what capacity.
  • State whose music/play/poetry/choreography/visual art/etc is being presented.
• Be careful with selectively quoting 1-2 words – the shorter the quote, the more likely it can be misread.
• It doesn’t hurt to mention a previous connection/review.

• About
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Basil Considine

Basil Considine is the Editor of the Twin Cities Arts Reader. He served as Performing Arts Editor and Senior Classical Music and Drama Critic for the Arts Reader's first five years before succeeding Hanne Appelbaum. He was previously the Resident Classical Music and Drama Critic at the Twin Cities Daily Planet and remains an occasional contributing writer for The Boston Musical Intelligencer and The Chattanoogan. He holds a PhD in Music and Drama from Boston University, an MTS in Sacred Music from the BU School of Theology, and a BA in Music and Theatre from the University of San Diego.

Basil was named one of Musical America's 30 Professionals of the Year in 2017. He was previously the Regional Governor for the National Opera Association's North Central Region.

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• INTERVIEW: Crystal Manich on Opera, Interrupted - May 5, 2020